Ease Schengen visa to Indian residents in UK:Commons Committee

Sun, May 11 11:50 AM

H S Rao London, May 11 (PTI) A high-powered Parliamentary Committee has asked the British Government to explore with Schengen countries how visa regime for Indian residents in the UK could be eased as getting a Schengen visa now is nothing short of a nightmare. "We urge the Government to explore with Schengen countries how the visa regime for Indians resident in the UK and needing to travel to other European Union countries could be eased, or periods of EU visa validity extended considerably," the House of Commons Business and Enterprise Committee said in its fifth report of the year 2007-08.

The committee also urged the Government "to keep under review the possible improvements in visa and other related arrangements that could be made to the mutual benefit of the British and Indian economies. The UKIBC should be well positioned to give advice on this important issue.

" Headed by Conservative MP Peter Luff, the 11-member Committee, also asked the Government to end anomaly in the period allowed to Indian students to remain in the UK after completing their studies. The other members of the Committee, titled 'Waking up to India: Developments in UK-India economic relations', are MP Adrian Bailey, MP Roger Berry, MP Michael Clapham, MP Lindsay Hoyle, MP Anne Moffat, MP Anthony Wright, MP Brian Binley, MP Julie Kirkbride, MP Mark Hunter and MP Mike Weir.

Noting that Indian students are attracted more to Australia and the USA than the UK, it asked the Government to undertake a comprehensive examination of the ways of making the UK a more attractive place to study for them including overcoming visa issues and increasing the length of time the students can remain in the UK after graduation. PTI.

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